Ancient Beards and Styles

Styles of Men's Beards in Ancient Biblical Times

In ancient times beards came in various styles and shapes. In ancient Egypt the beard was a symbol of status, in ancient India the beard was a symbol of dignity. In ancient Assyria, Babylon and Persia the beard was cared for with great detail, they oiled, dressed and curled their beards using many instruments including curling irons. They would carefully create beautiful ringlets and patterns. The ancient Greeks considered it a sign of strength, although Alexander had them removed for battle. The Romans considered the beard to be a sign of disorder or messiness. The "Beard" is often mentioned in the Bible:

Isaiah 7:20 - In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

Psalms 133:2 - [It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

Leviticus 14:9 - But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

2 Samuel 20:9 - And Joab said to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

Ezekiel 5:1 - And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause [it] to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the [hair].

Leviticus 13:30 - Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it [be] in sight deeper than the skin; [and there be] in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a dry scall, [even] a leprosy upon the head or beard.

2 Samuel 19:24 - And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace.

Leviticus 19:27 - Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

1 Samuel 17:35 - And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Leviticus 21:5 - They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Isaiah 15:2 - He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

1 Samuel 21:13 - And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

Ezra 9:3 - And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

Jeremiah 48:37 - For every head [shall be] bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands [shall be] cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

Leviticus 13:29 - If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;